Mr. Hutchinson, you talked a bit about critical financial constraints and how you were doing a comprehensive review of the finances. In looking at the briefing document that we received from the Library of Parliament, I have some concerns, because the Canada Transportation Act review report, which was submitted in December 2015 and tabled this past February, noted that the Canadian Coast Guard fleet “is one of the oldest in the world and urgently requires renewal (individual ships average nearly 34 years of age).”
It seems, according to this briefing, that the Canadian Coast Guard has been kind of neglected. You mentioned that you are working on a 30-year plan for fleet renewal. Can you talk to us a little about those challenges? This fleet has not been renewed, and our procurement cycle, as you know, is not something that can be accomplished overnight, in terms of getting new assets.
Could you talk to us a bit about how you've been trying to manage those challenges and capability gaps because of a lack of procurement and planning in the last few years?